Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Embers of Regret (1)
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The landscape that unfolded before them resembled a winter wonderland.
The residence had exploded, leaving only its foundation behind, and the entire interior of the estate was blanketed in pure white snow. Those who had been enjoying the feast still seemed utterly clueless about what was happening.
It was understandable. The change had happened in the blink of an eye.
"...What in the world happened?"
"Looks like there was a massive fight inside the residence."
They muttered among themselves, feeling a profound sense of dissonance, and soon realized the source of it.
Demonic beasts and demons.
"W-Wait! What about the demonic beasts and demons?"
With hordes of demonic beasts and demons charging in, how could they be standing around so leisurely like this? It was downright bizarre.
Everyone quickly scanned their surroundings. They set off in search of what had become of the demonic beasts and demons.
"...!"
And soon, they were all stunned.
The demonic beasts and demons were simply frozen solid.
Demonic energy that still clung to life, wriggling faintly, but trapped helplessly within the ice. Whispers spread like wildfire among the crowd.
"...To seal demonic energy just like that? I've never seen ice like this in my life. Never even heard of it!"
"It's not just the beasts. Even the demons were taken down this easily... Just how high is their level?"
"Who the hell could pull off something like this?"
Among those present, only Velka and Anes remained silent. This ice was undoubtedly Zekiel's handiwork.
Of course, even they were thrown off balance.
Just as everyone was marveling at the spectacle,
"Everyone, listen up."
A man appeared suddenly atop the estate walls and spoke. Zekiel, the Magic Tower's Inspector—more than enough to draw all eyes.
In his hand was a perfect cube of ice.
Inside the transparent icy box was Tirbi's severed head, its sclera stained a deep purple. It was unmistakable proof of a demon, no deep analysis needed.
"This guy was the cause of the Ruipl Erosion Phenomenon, and I just took care of him. Nothing complicated, right?"
The people could only blink in stunned silence.
Tirbi.
The name of the woman hailed as the messenger of the Sun God, who had ruled the Ruipl region like a faith unto itself.
She, who had gripped the people's hearts so tightly, was now on blatant display—her head chopped off and encased in ice, bearing the face of a demon.
"... ."
The shock was too much for words to form. Everyone had frozen like ice statues themselves.
"No way... Lady Tirbi, of all people?"
"It can't be. The messenger of the Sun God..."
People began collapsing to the ground here and there.
Despair seemed to outweigh anger for now. Understandable, given the deep trust they'd placed in Tirbi all this time.
That was when Zekiel spoke up.
"Yeah, I get you're all shocked."
He pulled a single leaf from his pocket.
"But that's that, and you've got work to do right now."
It resembled a long blade of grass shaped like a willow leaf, but no one failed to recognize it. Ruipl was the largest producer of this plant, after all.
"...Sunweed?"
Someone murmured.
Zekiel nodded.
Correct. Sunweed.
"Bring me every last bit you have. Not a single one left behind."
The situation in Ruipl was quickly brought under control.
"The Magic Tower Inspector really pulled off something huge."
"If he hadn't come... who knows what would've happened."
"We'd have lived our whole lives deceived. Horrifying just to think about."
The shock from Tirbi was already transforming into great renown for Zekiel. Immense renown, at that.
Of course, Zekiel was just smoking sunweed. With the true evil gone, the feast ought to continue.
A mountain of piled-up sunweed, his back leaned against the heap.
Huu—
He exhaled a long plume of smoke.
Maybe because it had been ages since he'd smoked so much, his mind felt pleasantly hazy. His vision wavered in a delightful blur.
That was when Anes approached.
"Inspector, how long have you known?"
"From the start."
"I had no idea."
"That's your level. You're still dull."
"...Dull? Me?"
Zekiel deliberately used harsh words. This outing needed to serve as a lesson for Anes too, and sharp remarks like these would work best on her.
Anes was always the top student who never missed first place.
He'd already reviewed the files on his exclusive secretary.
Exceptionally talented. She'd entered the academy at a young age and always took first among her peers. No wonder she could become an Imperial Administrator.
A talent worth cultivating. The moment Zekiel thought that,
"I won't deny it. Compared to your skills, Inspector, I'm indeed still dull."
Anes continued.
"I can vaguely guess why you didn't give me even a hint. It would've been easier for the inspection without telling me."
Her reaction was unique.
A pure question, devoid of anger or hurt. She stuffed the cube into her pocket and went on.
"Your name will become hugely famous here now. Maybe even beyond Ruipl."
"And?"
"I don't understand why you brought me along. If you just needed to fill out the numbers, wouldn't it have been more efficient to leave me at the tower handling work?"
Always expressionless. Always emotionless.
What she was asking now was purely about 'efficiency'.
But left like this, Anes would remain just a prodigy forever. Zekiel intended to guide her beyond that—to the realm of genius.
Just like in the distant past, when he'd taught his precious disciples.
"Anes, you need some inefficiency."
The sense of powerlessness, impatience, maybe even inferiority from watching someone greater up close... Things she needed, even if they were a bit painful. Absolutely essential.
Anes blinked twice in quick succession.
"Playing word games again?"
"I said you need what you need. Now go."
As if telling her not to interrupt his sunweed savoring, Zekiel shooed her away with a wave.
"... ."
Anes blinked at regular intervals, then,
Stared at the Inspector with her blank expression,
[Occasionally says things that make zero sense.]
[Seems to spout nonsense when high on sunweed.]
And added two lines to her notepad.
"Ha... This should do it. Pathetic Inspector bastard."
Balton, the guard knight of 2nd Princess Hedera, gazed contentedly at the line of demonic beast corpses laid out on the ground.
"I'll make you realize that chasing immediate pleasures kicks away long-term happiness in life."
If he'd been blinded by something right in front of him, Balton might have sought a way to crush Zekiel on the spot. Like a duel, say.
He could break him immediately that way, but it wouldn't be wise. He needed a method that exposed his full hand while slowly tightening the noose.
That was how the bet had started, after all.
Besides, this was Ruipl.
A place where unexpected peace had arrived.
Demonic beast sightings were rarer than anticipated. To win the bet, he had to move quickly.
Considering the circumstances, 30 isn't bad.
Balton nodded quietly. His eyes, hidden within the helmet, gleamed like fluorescent lights.
"The Inspector's probably still boozing it up."
"He'll regret it once he's forcibly dismissed."
The three knights smirked as they entered the estate.
The scene unfolded exactly as expected.
The ongoing feast, the Magic Tower Inspector indulging only in booze and sunweed... Aside from the modest layer of snow inside the estate, it was spot on.
Balton lifted his chin and shouted.
"Inspector! Any earnings today?"
No reply came.
Understandable. After fooling around all day, pretending not to hear out of guilt was his best bet.
So Balton's gaze shifted to Zekiel's group.
"Looks like even you lot know enough to be embarrassed for your Inspector. For his sake, why don't you answer instead? Any earnings today?"
But...
Something felt off.
Why are those guys reacting like that?
They should be mortified, faces flushing beet red by now—but the two female mages from Zekiel's group were utterly calm and composed.
No, they weren't even paying attention to Balton.
"Oh, Sunweed Senior...! Hello...!"
"Cut it out. Aren't you embarrassed?"
"Even Lady Anes is shy...? About the shame...?"
"That's not what I mean."
"Anyway, it means you're not that close...? Come on, say hi. It's what the Inspector ordered, at least..."
"...Stop undervaluing yourself."
Beyond calm, they were downright nonchalant. Exchanging utterly baffling nonsense.
"How much did these idiots drink to be this far gone..."
Just as Balton was about to bellow,
Snap—!
Someone snapped their fingers, as if demanding attention here.
The Magic Tower's Inspector, Zekiel.
Still showing his back, he raised his hand.
Holding something, slowly.
Very slowly.
"... ."
The three knights' mouths clamped shut instantly.
"...!"
Moments later, their jaws dropped wide open.
What Zekiel held in his hand.
Undoubtedly, the head of a high-ranking demon.